MMDA starts COVID-19 pediatric vaccination; targets 50 to 100 minors a day

Child stars and children of show business personalities and players of the Philippine Basketball Association are the latest beneficiaries of the COVID-19 vaccination during the MMDA’s Resbakuna Kids program launch. Photo from MMDA PIO

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) rolled out on Monday the COVID-19 vaccination of children aged five to 11 and is targeting to immunize 50 to 100 minors per day.

MMDA officer-in-charge and General Manager Romando Artes said that the pediatric vaccination, dubbed Resbakuna Kids, is open for all, and walk-ins are allowed.

Photo from MMDA PIO

“There’s no need to pre-register but parents or guardians need to present proof that their kids are at least five years old and they also need to accomplish consent form before their kids get vaccinated,” Artes said in a statement.

“We are targeting 50 to 100 kids to be vaccinated at the MMDA facility daily,” he added.

Artes noted that the pediatric vaccination program aims to give minors protection to return to face-to-face classes. 

“This is the first step for children to be able to go back to school,” he said.

Photos from MMDA PIO

The MMDA said that it divided its facility in Makati City into two sections, one accommodating adult vaccinees and another catering minors.

The section accommodating minors was converted into a playground-like area to ease their fear of vaccines.

Various toys, books, and board games were in place for the children’s use prior to their immunization.

For the Resbakuna Kids’ launch, child stars and children of show business personalities and players of the Philippine Basketball Association were inoculated.

Moreover, the mobile vaccination drive for the public transportation industry was likewise launched Monday at the Land Transportation Office in Quezon City through a joint initiative of the MMDA and the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

The We Vax as One: Mobile Vaccination Drive is a four-day event that will be conducted until February 17.

It seeks to inoculate 500 individuals per day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“This activity is a result of a fruitful relationship between the MMDA and the DOTR in line with the government’s efforts to expand its vaccination rollout to areas accessible to the public,” said Artes.

JPV